Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government has decided to host an international festival starting as of mid-October to help rebuild Hong Kong's international image.

During the festival period, US, British and Australian top music stars and NBA stars will be invited to give performance. They include US singer Janet Jackson, rock and roll singer Bruce Spingsteen, Australian singer Kylie Minogue and British pop singer Sting.

Funded by the HKSAR government, the international festival will be sponsored by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong. The funding will come from the 1- billion-HK-dollar (US$128 million) package for Hong Kong reactivating activities granted by the Legislative Council earlier this year.

NBA will start a new contest season when the festival starts.

James Thompson, chairman of American Chamber of Commerce, told Xinhua that his chamber submitted to the HKSAR government the planfor holding the festival on July 26 as activities to further promote post-SARS Hong Kong in foreign countries.

He said the performances, expected to start as of October 17, will be held at four successive weekends and a large platform will be built for the performances.

Several Hong Kong and overseas TV stations are expected to be invited to air the performances.

Hong Kong also plans an international fireworks show in this October.

(Xinhua News Agency July 24, 2003)